Man jailed for killing his friend

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A Belfast man who killed his friend by stabbing him in the neck with a broken vodka bottle has been jailed for life.

Daniel Whyte, 59, was killed in a flat in Hartington Court in February 2007. John Crolly, 44, admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

Crolly, also of Hartington Court, will serve at least six and a half years before being considered for release.

The judge said alcohol dependency was a factor, but he "must bear significant responsibility for his actions".

Mr Justice Morgan told Belfast Crown Court he accepted there was no planning or premeditation but "it remains the position that he used a highly dangerous weapon, a broken bottle".

He added: "This incident forms part of a pattern of similar incidents involving the use or threat of use of knives or bottles either on himself or others."

The court was told Mr Whyte had been staying with Crolly at his flat, off the Dublin Road in Belfast city centre.

Crolly initially claimed to police that his friend had stabbed himself, but later changed his story to claim that he had stabbed him by accident in the darkened flat.

'Significantly impaired'

He was originally charged with murdering Mr Whyte but that was not proceeded with after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

A prosecution lawyer said they accepted the lesser charge because of medical evidence indicating that his alcohol dependency had significantly impaired his mental state.

He said Crolly's "extensive" criminal record included the stabbing of a man with a kitchen knife, and called for the judge to impose a discretionary life sentence.

A defence barrister said Crolly "deeply regrets" what he did to his friend and added that while he had not tried to resist a life term "with any great vigour... substantial impairment is a feature which serves to reduce the term".

In setting the minimum tariff at six and a half years, Mr Justice Morgan told Crolly it would be up to the Life Sentence Review Commissioners whether he should be released at the end of that term after an assessment of the level of risk he posed to the public.